-
#1600
by
JayP
on 10 Feb, 2011 19:54
-
Here's a shuttle question I can't find an answer for...
What was the reason why the name of the shuttle was moved from the payload bay door to behind the cockpit? Similarly, adding the orbiter name on the top of the wing?
If I recall correctly, Columbia and Challenger were the only two to have the name on the payload doors, but then it was moved on Columbia during an overhaul.
Similarly, you had the dark sections on the wing root of Columbia, which eventually went away. Maybe this was due to changes in the thermal protection?
Moving the name to the cockpit was to enable reading it in on-orbit photgraphs and videos (taken from the RMS cameras and durring EVAs)
Challenger's name was always on the cockpit.
The name on the wing was to make it visible in footage of the vehicle on the pad.
The black chines on Columbia were a bit of thermal protection overkill. Untill they actually flew a reentry, there was some concern about the flow dynamics over the wing roots durring reentry.
-
#1601
by
Lee Jay
on 11 Feb, 2011 22:45
-
Where are the antennas on the orbiter that transmit shuttle telemetry during launch, what band is used and what transmission format?
-
#1602
by
DaveS
on 11 Feb, 2011 23:25
-
Where are the antennas on the orbiter that transmit shuttle telemetry during launch, what band is used and what transmission format?
4 omni-directional S-band antennas placed around the X
o576 bulkhead. They can be either PM or AM. UHF is available as back-up in case S-band is not available.
-
#1603
by
DMeader
on 11 Feb, 2011 23:25
-
Where are the antennas on the orbiter that transmit shuttle telemetry during launch, what band is used and what transmission format?
I believe there are diagrams of antenna locations in Jenkins.
-
#1604
by
Lee Jay
on 11 Feb, 2011 23:29
-
Where are the antennas on the orbiter that transmit shuttle telemetry during launch, what band is used and what transmission format?
4 omni-directional S-band antennas placed around the Xo576 bulkhead. They can be either PM or AM. UHF is available as back-up in case S-band is not available.
Thank you.
That's the aft-crew cabin bulkhead at the front of the payload bay, right? So these transmit through the payload bay doors?
-
#1605
by
DaveS
on 11 Feb, 2011 23:34
-
Where are the antennas on the orbiter that transmit shuttle telemetry during launch, what band is used and what transmission format?
4 omni-directional S-band antennas placed around the Xo576 bulkhead. They can be either PM or AM. UHF is available as back-up in case S-band is not available.
Thank you.
That's the aft-crew cabin bulkhead at the front of the payload bay, right? So these transmit through the payload bay doors?
No. They're located around the bulkhead, ahead of the doors. Not inside the payload bay.
-
#1606
by
Lee Jay
on 12 Feb, 2011 00:18
-
No. They're located around the bulkhead, ahead of the doors. Not inside the payload bay.
Oh, well see, that makes a whole bunch more sense. Thanks Dave!
-
#1607
by
DaveS
on 14 Feb, 2011 22:06
-
Just confirming something here: The diameter of the cylindrical portion of the payload bay is 180" right? Adding the sill longerons, it is 200"?
-
#1608
by
sivodave
on 16 Feb, 2011 10:51
-
Hi all.
I have a question regarding the TPS tiles around the forward RCS thrusters. As shown in the attached picture, it seems to me that the tiles just around the upper edge of nozzles have some sort of grooves on their surface.
Am I right or wrong? either cases, what are they and why?
thanks
Davide
-
#1609
by
Mark Dave
on 16 Feb, 2011 15:06
-
-
#1610
by
sivodave
on 16 Feb, 2011 23:28
-
Hi MarkD.
thanks for this. Do you know which kind of material is used? I suppose those plates are put in place for helping the nozzles to passively cool down, with the grooves adding more radiating surface and strengthening the plates itself. Am I right or wrong?
Davide
-
#1611
by
Mark Dave
on 17 Feb, 2011 00:06
-
No problem.
I'm sorry I don't. Probably inconel. Yes, maybe they are for that or to act as a barrier between the RCS plumes and the times. My guess is the thruster jet plumes would damage the tiles by erosion.
Dennis R. Jenkins space shuttle books might give something. *shrugs*
-
#1612
by
sivodave
on 17 Feb, 2011 07:32
-
Hi all.
some question for who of you works directly with the orbiters at the KSC.
between a tile and blanket, which is the most difficult to install? and why?
which is the area of the orbiter where is more difficult to install the TPS?
which is the more demanding task in installing/removing a tile? what is it easier: removing or installing a tile/blanket?
thanks
Davide
-
#1613
by
Aobrien
on 18 Feb, 2011 03:02
-
Why was the EVA translation slidewires removed from all the orbiters prior to RTF after the Columbia accident? They made a brief comeback on STS-125 but then was removed again following the flight.
Wouldn't they have simply been for EVA's requiring more payload bay walking to make it easier to move about the bay rather than having to re-tether every time you move.
Just my guess, maybe someone else can chime in.
-
#1614
by
david1971
on 20 Feb, 2011 22:04
-
Quick question, looking at the timeline at
http://www.scibuff.com/2010/05/14/sts-132-launch-timeline/I see the following:
19:20:42 GMT @ T+00:33 – Throttle down from 104.5% to 72.0% engine power level at Mach 0.9.
19:20:52 GMT @ T+00:43 – Mach 1.
19:20:54 GMT @ T+00:45 –Throttle up back to 104.5% engine power level.
19:21:09 GMT @ T+01:00 – Max-Q (the point of the greatest dynamic pressure).
I had thought that the throttle down / throttle up was to reduce stresses as the shuttle went through Max-Q, and therefore throttle up was after Max-Q. What am I missing? Is it that the throttle sequence produces a new (lesser) Max-Q later in the ascent?
-
#1615
by
Jim
on 21 Feb, 2011 00:00
-
Yes
-
#1616
by
parham55
on 24 Feb, 2011 18:41
-
I've never seen any video of the astronauts getting suited and strapped in while on orbit preparing for entry. Does any exist? If not is it more difficult or less than the process before launch? Anyone care to take a stab at describing the process, what is more or less difficult? Thanks.
Rob
-
#1617
by
ChrisC
on 24 Feb, 2011 20:18
-
-
#1618
by
Moe Grills
on 24 Feb, 2011 20:25
-
Is it still Captain Kirk who is in command of the SRB recovery ship
out there in the waters off Florida?
I'm not joking; I learned from an CNN program that 'a' Captian Kirk was
in command of the space shuttle SRB recovery ship.
Is he still the one in command of that ship?
-
#1619
by
sivodave
on 24 Feb, 2011 22:42
-
Hi all.
to your knowledge, do you know if there is any contingency procedure in case some of the doors of the purge and vent system along the side of the mid fuselage don't open during the ascent?
Thanks
regards
Davide
I'm sorry I don't. Probably inconel. Yes, maybe they are for that or to act as a barrier between the RCS plumes and the times. My guess is the thruster jet plumes would damage the tiles by erosion.